Organization Overview, Mission, Vision, and Values
Our mission is to improve the health of people in the communities we serve through compassionate, high-quality care, prevention, and wellness education. Washington Regional Medical System is a community-owned, locally governed, non-profit health care system located in Northwest Arkansas in the heart of Fayetteville, which is consistently ranked among the Best Places to live in the country. Our 425-bed medical center has been named the #1 hospital in Arkansas for five consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. We employ 3,400+ team members and serve the region with over 40 clinic locations, the region’s only Level II trauma center, and five Centers of Excellence - the Washington Regional J.B. Hunt Transport Services Neuroscience Institute; Washington Regional Walker Heart Institute; Washington Regional Women and Infants Center; Washington Regional Total Joint Center; and Washington Regional Pat Walker Center for Seniors.
Position Summary
The Surgery Educator reports to the Director of Surgical Services Operations. This position is responsible for coordinating, developing, teaching, and evaluating clinical education, orientation, and ongoing competency for team members in the OR environment including the main hospital operating room, a separate smaller hospital operating room, women’s services surgery, the ambulatory surgery center (ASC), and cardiovascular surgery. This position partners with leaders, physicians, and interdisciplinary teams to standardize evidence-based practice, support regulatory readiness, and promote safe, efficient perioperative care.
Essential Position Responsibilities
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Partners with Surgical Services OR leaders to plan, implement, and evaluate education strategies that support safety, quality, patient experience, and operational priorities across all operating rooms.
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Coordinates onboarding and unit-based orientation for OR RNs, surgical technologists, anesthesia support staff (as applicable), and other perioperative team members; supports preceptors with tools, coaching, and progression plans.
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Develops and maintains competency validation processes (initial, annual, and as-needed) including return demonstrations, skills sessions, simulation, case-based learning, and documentation to meet department and regulatory requirements.
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Designs, updates, and delivers perioperative education content aligned with evidence-based practice and applicable standards (e.g., aseptic technique, surgical counts, specimen management, positioning, time-out/briefing/debriefing, medication safety, fire safety, laser safety, and infection prevention).
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Provides service-line specific education and support, including (as applicable): Women’s procedures, PSH and ASC workflow and patient flow, and Cardiovascular Surgery practices such as heparin/protamine considerations, blood conservation/cell salvage workflow, and management of specialized equipment and supplies.
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Supports standard work and workflow reliability by creating and maintaining education materials, checklists, tip sheets, and role expectations; reinforces consistent practice across locations and shifts.
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Collaborates with surgeons, anesthesia, nursing, sterile processing, supply chain, quality, infection prevention, and other stakeholders to identify learning needs, reduce variation, and improve team communication and performance.
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Monitors education compliance and competency completion; reports progress to leaders and develops action plans to address gaps, trends, and high-risk learning needs.
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Participates in quality and safety initiatives (e.g., near-miss review, event follow-up, audit feedback, and performance improvement projects) by translating findings into targeted education and reinforcement.
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Serves as a clinical resource and coach by being visible in the perioperative areas, rounding with teams, providing real-time support, and promoting a culture of patient-centered care and continuous learning.
Qualifications
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Education: Must be a graduate of an accredited nursing program. Masters in Nursing degree preferred.
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Licensure and Certifications: Current Arkansas RN license and CPR required. ACLS required within 90 days. PALS required within 120 days of DOH or transfer. Perioperative certification (e.g., CNOR) preferred.
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Experience: Minimum 3 years of acute care nursing experience required, specifically perioperative/operating room experience required. Experience with staff education, precepting, competency validation, and/or performance improvement preferred.
Work Environment: This position will spend 80% of the time walking and/or standing while pushing, pulling, lifting, and/or carrying up to 50 lbs. This position will spend 20% of the time sitting while performing work in a standard office environment. This position will be exposed to communicable diseases, bodily fluids, and radiation. This position serves a cultural and linguistically diverse patient population.
